First things first: what do all three do?
Zapier, Make and n8n are tools for building automations. The principle is the same in all of them: a trigger (something that happens, such as a new website form) starts actions (saving to a sheet, emailing the customer, updating the team), without you doing it by hand.
All three connect to thousands of apps, let you build workflows without writing code, and support AI tools. The differences are in how you build, how much it costs as usage grows, and how much control you have.
- A website form is submitted
- The details are saved to a sheet
- The customer gets an email
- The team gets an update
The most important thing to remember
There is no "best" tool. There is the tool that fits you best: your technical comfort, your budget and how many automations you will run.
Three tools, three approaches
Zapier
The veteran and the simplest of the three. You build a workflow as a top-to-bottom list of steps, and it has the most ready-made integrations.
- Strength
- Simplicity, and 9,000+ ready-made apps
- Weakness
- The price climbs quickly as you run more
Make
You build the workflow as a visual map of connected circles. Great for complex flows with branches, at a relatively low price.
- Strength
- Excellent value for money and a clear visual view
- Weakness
- A little more to learn than Zapier
n8n
The most powerful and flexible of the three. Use it in the cloud or install it yourself for free, and it shines at AI workflows.
- Strength
- Free self-hosting, pay per run and full data control
- Weakness
- Needs a bit more technical patience at first
The key thing to understand: how each tool counts usage
This is the biggest difference, and it decides what you pay at the end of the month. Each tool counts something else:
- Zapier: Tasks
- Every successful action counts as one task. The trigger itself does not count, and neither do built-in steps such as Filter and Formatter.
- Make: Credits
- Every time a module in the workflow performs an action, it uses credits, usually one. The trigger is a module too, so it counts as well.
- n8n: Executions
- Each run of the whole workflow counts once, no matter how many steps it has. When you self-host, there is no execution limit at all.
Example: one workflow, three bills
Imagine a four-step workflow: a new form (the trigger), saving to a sheet, emailing the customer and messaging the team. It runs 10 times a day, about 300 times a month:
| Compared | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counted per run | 3 tasks (the three actions) | About 4 credits (four modules) | One execution |
| Monthly usage | About 900 tasks | About 1,200 credits | 300 executions |
| Plan that fits | Professional with 1,500 tasks: $39/month | Core with 10,000 credits: about $9/month | Cloud Starter: €20/month, or free when self-hosted |
Prices billed annually, per the official pricing pages in October 2026. Monthly billing costs more: about 50% more on Zapier, and about 15% to 20% more on Make and n8n. This is an illustration only; the exact numbers depend on how the workflow is built.
And if your business grows tenfold, to 3,000 runs a month? On Zapier that is already about 9,000 tasks, a $129/month plan. On n8n it is 3,000 executions: the Pro cloud plan (€50/month), or still free when self-hosted. Make sits in the middle: about 12,000 credits, on a plan that is still much cheaper than Zapier.
Watch out for triggers that check every few minutes
On Make, a trigger that checks for new data on a schedule can use credits even when nothing new has arrived. When you can, prefer an instant trigger (a webhook), which runs only when something actually happens.
The full comparison, point by point
| Compared | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting paid price | $19.99/month (750 tasks) | About $9/month (10,000 credits) | €20/month (2,500 executions) |
| Free plan | 100 tasks/month, two-step workflows only | 1,000 credits/month | None in the cloud, but self-hosting is free |
| Ease of use | Easiest | Moderate | Most to learn |
| How you build | A top-to-bottom list of steps | A visual map of modules | A visual canvas of nodes |
| Ready-made integrations | 9,000+ | 3,000+ | 2,000+ |
| Complex logic (conditions, loops) | Possible, but relatively limited | Very strong | Strongest, including code when needed |
| AI and agents | Zapier Agents (billed separately) | Built-in AI agents | AI Agent node and MCP support |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes, for free |
| Where your data lives | Zapier’s cloud | Make’s cloud | n8n’s cloud (in Europe) or your own server |
| Best for | Beginners and simple workflows | Complex workflows on a budget | AI, high volume and data control |
Prices billed annually, as checked in October 2026. Integration counts are as stated by each company on its website. All three can also connect to services without a ready-made integration, through webhooks and APIs.
So which should you choose?
Choose Zapier if…
- You want to start fast, with almost nothing to learn.
- Your workflows are simple: a trigger plus two or three actions.
- You need a niche app that may only be available there.
- You run few workflows, so the price stays reasonable.
Choose Make if…
- You want to see the whole workflow as a visual map.
- Your workflows have branches, conditions and lists to process.
- Low cost matters, and you do not want to run a server.
- You are happy to spend an hour or two learning.
Choose n8n if…
- You plan many automations or high volumes.
- You want to build AI agents and smart workflows.
- Keeping your data in-house (self-hosting) matters to you.
- A little technical work does not scare you, or someone can help.
The simple rule
A complete beginner who wants results today? Zapier. More power for less money? Make. Thinking long-term, with AI and full control? n8n.
Chose n8n? The n8n installation guide walks you through it step by step, including a comparison of the ways to run it.
Four tips before you decide
Start with one real workflow
Pick a task you repeat every day and build it for free, on the free plan or trial, before paying for anything.
Think ahead
A rough estimate is enough: how many times a month will it run, and what will it cost as your business grows, not just today?
Check the integrations
Make sure the apps that matter to you, such as your CRM, calendar or WhatsApp, exist in the tool you chose and do what you need.
Remember that switching takes time
There is no automatic export from one tool to another; workflows have to be rebuilt. It is worth spending an extra half hour choosing at the start.
Frequently asked questions
Which tool is cheapest?
At small volumes, the free plans of Zapier and Make may be enough. As usage grows, Make and n8n are much cheaper than Zapier, and self-hosted n8n costs nothing for the software itself (you only pay for a server, if you need one).
Do I need to know how to code?
No. In all three you build by dragging and choosing from menus. n8n also lets you write code when you want to, but it is optional.
Do they work with languages other than English?
The interfaces of all three are mainly in English, but your data in other languages, such as names, texts and messages, flows through them without any problem.
Can I use more than one tool?
Yes. Some businesses use Zapier for a quick one-off connection and n8n for their bigger workflows. Just do not spread your work too thin, so it stays easy to maintain.
What about privacy?
All three are built for business use. If it matters to you that your data never passes through an outside company’s servers, self-hosted n8n is the only option of the three.
If I choose now, can I switch later?
Yes, but not at the click of a button: workflows do not move automatically between tools and need to be rebuilt. The good news: you will already know the workflow’s logic, so the second build is much faster.
Official sources
This comparison is based on the official pricing pages and documentation of Zapier, Make and n8n, as checked in October 2026. Prices and plans change from time to time, so it is worth checking the official sources too. ShlomiFlowAI is not affiliated with any of these companies.
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